COLD STEEL
by JOHN STYERS
Text prepared by Karl Schuon Photographs by Louis Lowery Foreword A sudden realization of the thorough preparation for combat which will become an integral part of a Marine recruit's life strikes grimly home when he arrives at Parris Island and reads its motto - Let's be damned sure that no boy's ghost will ever say, 'If your training program had only done its job.' But that training program doesn't end with boot camp nor does it end as long as the man is a Marine.

Transcript

COLD STEEL
by JOHN STYERS
Text prepared by Karl SchuonPhotographs by Louis Lowery
Foreword
A sudden realization of the thorough preparation for combat which will become anintegral part of a Marine recruit's life strikes grimly home when he arrives at ParrisIsland and reads its motto- Let's be damned sure that no boy's ghost will ever say, 'If your training programhad only done its job.' But that training program doesn't end with boot camp nor does it end as long as theman is a Marine. Training develops specialists, and every Marine is a fightingspecialist, equipped with the knowledge necessary to qualify him for his importantrole on one of the world's deadliest teams. Wherever he may be, he is kept abreastof the warfare times, taught the battle techniques of tomorrow, and givenconfidence in his own proficiency - the proficiency of his Corps.He is part of a team, trained to do his job in a coldly calculated war of scientificweapons and mass destruction. But the touted push button warfare has limitations,and they demand the individual's ability to meet his enemy face to face, steel tosteel, hand-to-hand. Whether he is a radar operator, a communications man or atruck driver, he must be prepared to defend his own life in any eventuality. Closecombat has been skillfully developed into a science of self-preservation - and theadvance of death-dealing devices does not preclude the necessity for a basicknowledge of hand to hand principles and confidence in their application.
A Warning Word...
The publishers of Cold Steel wish to express their concern regarding the possibledangers involved in releasing a book of this type. It must be clearly understood thatthe principles prescribed on the following pages are intended to teach the fightingman to kill. Every precaution must be exercised in the practice of these principles; aslip in a careless attempt to perform movements described in this book may resultin serious damage or the death of an innocent training partner. Care should be takento prevent the book from falling into the hands of children who may thoughtlesslytry some of these principles on their playmates. Cold Steel is a recipe for death; useit wisely!PUBLISHER
Preface
But as brutality begets cruelty, so apology begets explanation.And, since America is not a brutal nation, the words between these covers arevulnerable to condemnation.But an honest purpose cannot be damned. As long as other nations war against eachother in lust, greed and ambition, brutality will persist and the brutal words on thesepages will have a purpose.When an atom bomb is loosed on a city, killing several hundred thousand people,the magnitude of suffering and death is incomprehensible to the average person andconjures up a picture of horror rather than brutality. If, however, the plane whichdropped the bomb is forced down on enemy territory on the return flight, and thecrew is faced with a hand-to-hand grapple with an enemy patrol where a handthrottling a throat, a knee smashing into a groin or a finger gouging an eye maymean life or death, then brutality becomes a reality.The realness of brutality must be faced with the same direct approach in which webuild an air raid shelter. World War II taught Americans the vast scope of atrocity;it would be criminal negligence to close our eyes to the bloody mayhem Americanmilitary men will meet in the field. They must be taught to meet it with a basicknowledge of its principles, the practical application of those principles, andconfidence in themselves to wage identical war.To Americans, who fight fair and clean by heritage - when they can - we dedicatethis book...That they may save their own lives by confidently engaging their enemy with hisown unprincipled principles.
Acknowledgments
The author is indebted to many people and organizations who were instrumental inbroadening his knowledge and perspective of close combat technique. Gratefulrecognition is hereby accorded to those who have made this contribution.The United States Marine CorpsThe late Col. A. J. Drexel Biddle, USMCRCol. William A. Kengla, USMC;Lt. Col. Walter R. Walsh, USMCRLt. Col. William E. Daly, Infantry, N. Y. GuardGeorge Santelli, Coach, American Olympic Fencing TeamEdward Lucia, 1st Assistant to SantelliSam Munson, Master of Arms, Sala MessineoCarl Kitt, U.S. Naval AcademyStephen V. Grancsay, The Metropolitan Museum of ArtHerbert Kreiger, Smithsonian InstituteSylvester Vigilante, N. Y. Public LibraryRobert Scott, Authority on James BowieGeneral Leroy P. Hunt, USMC (Ret.)Maj. General Ray A. Robinson, USMC
Mendel Peterson, Curator of Military and Naval History, Smithsonian InstituteAnd the many other individuals and organizations who have given generouscooperation and assistance.
Contents
Knife FightingUnarmed CombatThe Stick Knife Throwing
The Bayonet
For 300 years the use of the bayonet has remained the same; fundamentally it is apike - its object:To stick your opponent before he sticks you!Let's face an opponent. Let's recognize the fact that he understands the use of hisweapon, but let's not accept the supposition that the contest is going to be even. Itdoesn't have to be; you can have the advantage.An aggressive opponent will thrust his bayonet at you, attempting to direct its pointto the vital areas of your body - the chest or throat. This statement is ridiculouslyobvious, but it can be the basic action which will decide which one of you lives toengage another enemy. The correct application of the weapon in your hand willgive you immediate command of the situation.Merely knock your opponent's weapon aside and kill him!Simply said. Simply done.No fancy footwork; no intricate fencing, just two simple, natural movementscombined with speed and accuracy.The bayonet fighters of the old school will probably stop reading at this point andthrow up their gnarled hands in rage, or shake their greying heads in pity, cynicismor wonder. Footwork and fencing, they will insist, are the foundations on which bayonetfighting is built! No one will discount the value of these two fine aspects of bayonet technique, buttheir value was based on the one great doubt which has always haunted bayonetwielders: On which side of my blade will my opponent's blade fall? My correct parrydepends upon where his blade falls. True.But this doubt can be eliminated by furnishing your opponent with ONLY ONETARGET. The position in which you hold your piece will determine the directionof his weapon; you know where it will be;when it comes within your range, one deft move of your body will remove instantlythe target he thought he had. In its place he will find your blade, pointed directly athis throat-his own weapon sawing the thin air.YOUR thrust ends the engagement.
THE GUARD POSITION
The text and photographs in this book are intended for RIGHT-HANDED persons. Individuals who are LEFT-HANDED will simply REVERSE the directions given.
The Body
In learning to assume the guard position, the following steps will prove helpful:1. Stand at attention at port arms.2. Turn the piece AWAY from you, placing the blade OUTBOARD.

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